Burke Mountain Academy offers a unique and innovative program that focuses on the growth and development of student-athletes. We hope to foster desire, passion, and commitment in the pursuit of excellence. The BMA environment is challenging as well as supportive. For J3s it has three components:
- An expanded opportunity for alpine ski racing and training
- A strong academic core
- Involvement in the larger BMA community
These areas – which we refer to as the three legs of the Burke stool – are central to the Burke Mountain Academy philosophy.
ATHLETIC STRUCTURE & CALENDAR
Burke Mountain Academy offers a full-year, independent school program for J3 student-athletes in 9th grade (late August - early June), as well as a small and dynamic winter-term structure for J3s in the 7th and 8th grades (mid-November - late March).
The winter-term program runs from mid-November through mid-March. During this term, the athletes fully integrate with the Burke community, training and racing together on BMA’s world-class training hill. In addition to the racing season, J3s are encouraged to participate in two to three preparatory camps in the summer and fall. In August, most J3s ski for two weeks in Mt. Hood, Chile, or Scandinavia. At this camp, we focus on directed free-skiing and technical fundamentals. In October, our older J3s have the opportunity to train for two weeks in Europe with our FIS-age athletes. This camp addresses more advanced concepts in technique and tactics, with a higher volume of gate training. Because of the advanced nature of this camp, it is usually available only to our most skilled J3s. Our third camp marks the beginning of the traditional season. In mid-November, we hold a two-week camp that builds on the work done in August. Here we emphasize gate-training and tactical fundamentals, as well as directed free-skiing and technical refinement. The November camp is usually held at Burke; Mont Ste. Anne, Quebec; or Colorado from mid-November through early December.
At the end of the J3 competitive season in March, following the Junior Olympics, students return home. Exact arrival and departure dates are flexible in order to work with each student’s home school schedule.
For more information on the 7th and 8th Grade winter-term program academic program, click here
To view our most recent J3 brochure, click here
Kirk Dwyer - Headmaster / Head J3 Coach
For more more information, please contact kdwyer@burkemtnacademy.org
